Yarn package adapter



Jan. 4, 1966 J. COCKER Ill 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG]- INVENTOR.

Jan. 4, 1966 J. COCKER m 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1963 FIG: 5-

INVENTOR.

Jab/2 Cat/Fer M JaQJ 1966 J. COCKER m 3,227,395

YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-.8- FIG-.9;

1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,227,395 YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER John Cocker III,Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Cooker Machine & Foundry Company, Gastonia,N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Feb. 8, 1963, Ser. No.257,168 16 Claims. (Cl. 242-1295) This invention relates to a holder fortextile yarn packages Which is particularly advantageous because of itsability to accommodate itself to yarn packages of varying diametersandlengths. Holders of the type described herein are particularlyadapted for use in creels wherein large numbers of yarn packages aresupported in a spaced geometric relationship to one another, forproviding a multiplicty of ends of yarn. 7

Conventional yarn holders for creels are cylindrical pieces of Wood orthe like, centrally bored out, which can be slipped over rods ofcorresponding diameter and secured in place by means of a nut threadedonto the end of the rod. Such yarn holders are necessarily of a singlediameter and of a fixed length and are not well adapted to hold yarnpackages of different diameters or of significantly different lengths.Thus, it has been conventional in the art to provide yarn packageholders in many different sizes and lengths, and to change these holdersin order to accommodate different packages of corresponding sizes. Thisin turn has required the textile mills to maintain large inventories ofyarn package holders, to provide storage space for those not in use, andto provide an index or referencing system for promptly locating thesizes required.

Itis an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages referredto above, by providing a yarn package holder which is adaptable tovarious yarn sizes. A further object is to provide anjadjustable oradaptable yarn package holder which can be adjusted without removing itfrom the creel. Other objects and advantages of this invention willfurther become apparenthereinafter.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is .a view in side elevation,showing the yarn package in section, illus trating a specific embodimentof this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the yarn package adapter appearing in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged view of a stop means incorporated into theyarn package adapter, taken along the line indicated by the arrowsIIIIII in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a viewin side elevation, partly in section, similar to FIG. 1,showing the yarn package adapter in an adjustedposition. i

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, similar to FIG. 4showing another embodiment of;the yarn package adapter of thisinvention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the adapter appearing in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial view in side elevation of the adapter of FIGS. 5 and6 in which the adapter accommodates a small diameter package.

FIGS. 8 through 13 are views in side elevation, with the yarn packageappearing in section, showing other embodiments of the adapter of thisinvention.

Turning now to one specific form of the invention selected forillustration in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the number 10 designates agenerally vertical support which is a fixed portion of the creel, towhich an angle iron 11 is vertically adjustably affixed. The upperportion of the angle iron 11 carries an elongated rod 12, which supportsthe embodiment of the yarn package adapter comprehensively designated bythe number 13.

The yarn package adapter 13 has a generally cylindrical body portion 14having a longitudinal axis designated by the letter a. At one end, theadapter 13 has a cylindrical shoulder 15 of larger diameter than that ofbody portion 14, and a further and still larger cylindrical shoulderportion 16.

At its other end, the body portion 14 is provided with a flat, angularlyarranged end face 17 havinga substantially centrally located indentation20.

The number 21 designates a gentrally cylindrical extension portion whichhas an end face 22 which is immediately adjacent to the end face 17, andwhich is arranged at the same angle with respect to the axis a.

As will be observed, the body portion 14 and the extension portion 21are provided with co-extensive bores, arranged at an acute angle to theaxis a, through which the rod 12 extends. The rod 12 is provided with anintermediate threaded portion 25, which together with a nut 26, securesthe body portion 14 to the rod. At its end, the rod 12 is provided withanother threaded portion 27 which, together with a nut 30, secures theend portion 21 in position on the rod 12 and immediately adjacent to thebody portion 14.

As is shown in particular detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 14has an indentation accommodating a plunger 31 which is urged by acompression spring 32 toward the extension portion 21. The plunger 31carries a ball 33 which is adapted to be received in a socket 34 carriedby the extension portion 21. This structure pro.- vides a spring-urgedstop means located and effective between the adjacent end faces of thebody portion and the extension portion to establish and maintain aplurality of predetermined rotated positions of the extension portionrelative to the body portion.

It will be observed that FIG. 1 shows a yarn package Y which is as longas the sum of the body portion plus the extension portion, but which hasa bore with a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the bodyportion and of the extension portion.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the yarn package Y hasa bore of larger diameter than that of yarn package Y, and that the yarnpackage cylinder 40 is engageable upon the enlarged shoulder 15.Further, it will be observed that the end portion 21 is shown in arotated position as compared to the position shown in FIG. -1, andbecause of the fact that the extension portion is rotated about an axiswhich is arranged at an acute angle to the axis a, an edge portion 21aof the extension portion 21 extends outwardly beyond the periphery ofthe body portion 14, providing an effective diameter equal to thediameter of the shoulder portion 15, thus providing asupport for thepackage Y of such diameter.

It will be appreciated further that, having reference to the dot-dashlines appearing in FIG. 4, the yarn packake Y may be of greater lengththan the length shown solid lines, in which event the additional endportion 2112 v of the extension portion 21 also engages and supports theyarn package cylinder 40.

Although this end portion 2111 has been shown as specially shaped toprovide a cylindrical surface to engage internally the cylindrical boresurface of yarn package cylinder 40, this end portion may be shaped inany desired manner, including an outward extension to co-operate withthe larger shoulder 16 to accommodate an even larger package. Y r

It will be appreciated that it is unnecessary to remove the body portionor the extension portion from the creel when changing from one sizepackage to another. In most cases it is sufficient simply to rotate theextension portion, which is automatically maintained in the desiredposition by the spring-urged stop members. On other occasions, ifdesired, the extension portion 21 may 3 simply be removed and replaced,utilizing the nut 30, and various sizes and shapes of the extensionportion 21 may be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 7 of the drawings, another embodimentof this invention is shown in three views. In FIG. 5, the modifiedadapter 50 consists of a cone shaped body portion 51 having at itslarger end two cylindrical shoulders 52, 54 of progressively greaterdiameter and an expanding diameter extension 68 mounted at the smallerend. An elongated rod 56 extends through a bore 55 in the adapter 50along its longitudinal axis and has a thread portion 57 with a nut 58 tohold the body portion in position. The rod 56 also extends through anextension 68 and a nut 59, mounted on a second threaded portion 59a,holds the extension against the bodyportion 51.

The extension 60, as also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises two L-shapedarms 62, 64 which are outwardly spring biased to press against thesurfaces of the bore of the yarn package cylinder 70. The verticalportions 620, 64a, of the extension arms, as shown in FIG. 6, haveelliptical holes 62b, 64b which allow the arms 62, 64 to move verticallyin relation to the centrally positioned rod 56. Screws 66 together withsmall plates 67, 68, positioned on opposing sides of the two arms 62,64, guide the arms as they slide outward (FIG. 5) and inward (FIG. 7). Aspring 68 presses against the top edge of arm 62, as shown in FIGS. 5and 6, and against the top edge of a groove 69 formed in the arm 64thereby urging the arms outwardly.

When a yarn package Y having a cylinder 70 of relatively large diameteris placed on the adapter 50, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the packageslides along the tapered surfaces of the conical body portion 51 to thatpoint where the body portion fits tightly within the cylinder therebysupporting the yarn package at one end. The extension 60 then expandsuntil the arms 62, 64 are pressing against the inner surfaces of thecylinder thereby supporting the yarn package firmly at the other end. Ifthe yarn package and cylinder are even larger, the cylinder can befitted on one of the shoulders 52, 54, and the extension 60 will expandcorrespondingly.

If the yarn package has a small inner diameter, as shown in FIG. 7, thepackage fits only a short distance up the conical body portion and theexpanding legs hold the package firmly at the other end. By means ofthis embodiment of the adapter of this invention, an infinite number ofpackage and cylinder sizes, within the limits of the extension action,can be accommodated without having to substitute a new adapter.

' Another embodiment of the adapter of this invention is shown inFIGURES 8 through 13. In all of these views, the adapter comprises aconical body portion 80 having two cylindrical shoulders 82, 84 and anextension portion, designated 86 in FIG. 8, with a rod 85 positionedwithin co-extensive bores in both portions. The supporting rod ispositioned at an acute angle to the axis 1) of both portions. Theextension portion is held against the small end of the body portion 80by a nut, not shown but similar to that of FIG. 1, and a spring urgedstop means, as shown supra in FIG. 3, positions the extension portion inthe desired position relative to the body portion 80. Throughout thedescription this embodiment of which three modifications are shown inFIGS. 8, and 12, the parts identified by numbers in FIG. 1, which aresubstantially duplicated in all modifications, are referred to by thesame number.

. Considering FIGS. 8 and 9, which show the extension portion 86 havinga conical shape of slightly larger diameter than the adjacent part ofthe body portion 80, when a medium diameter package X is placed on theadapter, the extension 86 is positioned relative to the rod 85 so thatits effective outside diameter at point 850! is only large enough togrip the bore of the yarn package X. A package X, shown in dot-dashlines, having a smaller diameter is also accommodated on the conicalbody portion and by the extension at point b.

In FIG. 9, a larger diameter package Y rests upon and around theshoulder 82, and the rotated extension 86 at point 8512, supports theother end of the yarn package. The smaller diameter package Y, shown indotdash lines, is supported by the body portion at one end and theextension at point 85b.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the extension 90 is conical in shape but can bedescribed as inverted on the rod 35 so that the smaller end of theextension 90 is adjacent the small end 81 of the body portion 80. Assuch, the extension easily accommodates the long package X at point 90awhile a somewhat smaller diameter and shorter package X is held by thealmost horizontal top surface 9% of the extension. In FIG. 11, theextension 90 has been rotated degrees from that shown in FIG. 10, sothat point 90b grips the package Y together with the conical surface ofthe body portion and point 90a grips a somewhat smaller package Y.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, the extension 92 has a compound shape which is amore extreme form than that shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 12, together withthe conical body portion 80, the relatively large surfaces 92a of theextension is in contact with the surface of a medium size package X. InFIG. 13, a larger diameter package Y is held on the adapter by fittingaround the shoulder 82 and supported by a surface 92b of the extension.A package Y, shown in dot-dash lines, of smaller diameter is held on theconical surface and on a point 920 of the extension.

In the shown modifications of this embodiment of the adapter of thisinvention, only a few of the potential combinations of effectivegripping surfaces provided by the conical body portion and themulti-shaped extension portion are illustrated. It should be understoodthat the length and effective diameter of these parts can be varied soas to accommodate a large range of yarn packages.

Although this invention has been shown and described with reference tospecific forms thereof, it will be appreciated that many variations andchanges may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.For example, parts may be reversed, equivalents may be substituted, andcertain features of the invention may be used independently of otherfeatures all without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizescomprising in combination an elongated circular body portion having aplurality of concentric shoulder portions at one end, each of saidportions forming a smooth annular supporting surface of constantdiameter, the elongated axis of the body portion being coincident withthe centers of the shoulder portions, and an extension portionindependent of the body portion and attached to the body portion at theother end, said extension portion having an effective surface ofvariable diameter as measured from the elongated axis of the bodyportion.

2. The adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein a supporting rod extendsthrough both the body portion and the extension portion allowing saidportions to pivot thereon.

3. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the body and extensionportions are substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the body and extensionportions are substantially conical in shape.

5. The adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein the extension portion isprovided with spring biased extending arms whereby the effectivediameter of said portion can vary.

6. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizescomprising in combination a head meman axis arranged at an acute angleto that of said body" portion.

7. The adapter as defined in claim 6 wherein the body and extensionportions have a generally conical periphcry.

8. The adapter as defined in claim 7 wherein stop means is providedwhereby the extension portion can be positioned relative to the bodyportion around the common axis.

9. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of ditferent sizescomprising in combination a generally conical body portion having at oneend a plurality of concentric generally cylindrical shoulder portions,the elongate axis of the body portion coincident with the centers of theshoulder portions, an extension portion having a generally conicalperiphery coaxial with and larger in diameter than the adjacent conicalpart of the body portion, and means supporting said extension portionfor turning movement about an axis arranged at an acute angle to that ofsaid body portion.

10. The adapter as defined in claim 9 wherein the extension portion ismounted upon said supporting means so that the larger end of theextension portion is abutting the smaller end of the body portion.

11. The adapter as defined in claim 9 wherein the extension portion ismounted on the supporting means so that the smaller end of the extensionportion is abutting the smaller end of the body portion.

12. The adapter as defined in claim 11 wherein is provided spring urgedstop means located and eifective between said adjacent end faces of thebody and extension portions so as to establish and maintain a pluralityof predetermined rotated positions of said extension portion relative tosaid body portion.

13. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizescomprising in combination an elongated conical body portion and anextension portion abutting the body portion, said portions mounted on asupporting bolt extending through the elongated axis of both por-L-shaped arms mounted for sliding motion on the sup- L-shaped armsmounting for sliding motion on the supporting bolt, means for allowingthe arms to slide in the same plane with one another whereby theeffective diameter of the extension portion varies in relation to thesize of the yarn package mounted on the adapter.

14. The adapter as defined in claim 12 wherein a plurality of concentricshoulder portions are mounted on the body portion at the end oppositethat of the attached extension portion.

15. A yarn package adapter for holding yarn packages of different sizescomprising a head member having a plurality of concentric generallycylindrical shoulder portions, and an elongated generally cylindricalbody portion having an elongated axis coincident with the centers ofsaid shoulder portions, said body portion having a flat end facearranged at an acute angle to said axis, an extension portion having agenerally cylindrical periphery coaxial'with and corresponding indiameter to said body portion, said extension portion having an angularend face arranged immediately adjacent to said end face of said bodyportion and arranged at substantially the same acute angle relative tosaid axis, means supporting said extension portion for turning movementabout an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said angular endface, and spring-urged stop means located and etfective between saidadjacent end faces to establish and maintain a plurality ofpredetermined rotated positions of said extension portion relative tosaid body portion.

16. The adapter as defined in claim 15 wherein the extension portion hasa periphery comprising cylindrical and conical shaped surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,631 11/1952Bauer 242- 2,623,710 12/1952 Pearson 242130 MERVIN STEIN, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A YARN PACKAGE ADAPTER FOR HOLDING YARN PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT SIZESCOMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN ELONGATED CIRCULAR BODY PORTION HAVING APLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC SHOULDER PORTIONS AT ONE END, EACH OF SAIDPORTIONS FORMING A SMOOTH ANNULAR SUPPORTING SURFACE OF CONSTANTDIAMETER, THE ELONGATED AXIS OF THE BODY PORTION BEING COINCIDENT WITHTHE CENTERS OF THE SHOULDER PORTIONS, AND AN EXTENSION PORTIONINDEPENDENT OF THE BODY PORTION AND ATTACHED TO THE BODY PORTION AT THEOTHER END, SAID EXTENSION PORTION HAVING AN EFFECTIVE SURFACE OFVARIABLE DIAMETER AS MEASURED FROM THE ELONGATED AXIS OF THE BODYPORTION.